Testing of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs)

Background

Testing of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) is a routine activity in many Official Medicines Control Laboratories (OMCLs) of the General European OMCL Network (GEON). OMCLs also make important contributions to the development and improvement of European Pharmacopoeia monographs by their active participation in different Ph. Eur. working groups at the EDQM.

API Working Group

In order to react to these developments in the most efficient way, an OMCL working group dedicated to the testing of APIs was established in 2011. The task of the API Working Group is to develop strategies and programmes for the OMCL Network that contribute to the efforts of the European Health Authorities to ensure the high quality and safety of APIs on the European market into the future.

Achievements of the API Working Group to date

One major outcome of the work of this group has been to issue a GEON Position Paper that outlines the general risks with APIs and the possible contributions of the OMCL Network in the co-ordinated surveillance of APIs. The paper, which has been adopted by the OMCL Network, also includes strategies for the future surveillance of APIs.

In February 2013, a new database on API testing was launched. This new computer application, which is only accessible to members of the OMCL Network and national competent authorities, allows the sharing of information with respect to the testing of substances for pharmaceutical use (including excipients and herbals) in the OMCL Network with a focus on APIs. This database should promote API testing in the OMCL Network and collaboration in this field.

Work plan of the API Working Group

Topics currently in the work plan of the API Working Group include:

Improved information-sharing with respect to API testing in the OMCL Network; appropriate measures for the maintenance of an API testing information IT platform with controlled access and the routine reporting of API testing in the Annual Reports of the GEON members.

Support in the development and maintenance of a general Risk Assessment tool for the planning of national market surveillance programmes with focus on critical APIs.

Improvements in sample planning through collaboration with other stakeholders (in particular national GMP inspectors and customs officers).

Scientific discussion to foster Market Surveillance Studies (MSS) on APIs for the determination of the quality, but also the authenticity and sources, of tested materials by different measures, such as the application of “fingerprint” techniques and “chemometric analysis”.